From the Director Nu Cindy Chai, MDFellowship Director The UCSF Center for Pain Medicine specializes in the multidisciplinary management of patients suffering from acute, chronic, and cancer pain. The faculty consists of the Medical Director, the Administrative Director, the Fellowship Director, anesthesiologists, neurologists, psychologists, physical therapists, nurses, administrative staff, and consultants in Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Rheumatology, Radiology, Internal Medicine, Oncology, and Pharmacology. Pain fellowship training consists of 12 months of full-time training after satisfactory completion of a core residency program. Fellows are appointed each year by the Fellowship Selection Committee. The fellowship program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) within the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at the University of California, San Francisco. Fellows must obtain overall satisfactory evaluations at completion of 12 months of training leading to board certification in Pain Management by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Fellows rotate through San Francisco VA Medical Center for two to three months during their 12 months of pain fellowship training. Residents in the Department of Anesthesia rotate through the UCSF Center for Pain Medicine for one month during their second year of anesthesia residency training. The Center averages approximately 800 outpatient visits per month. Fellows and residents treat all types of pain. A multidisciplinary approach is taken in the management of pain. The Center provides education, training, and experience required for a specialist in pain management. Fellows and residents receive and participate in ongoing didactic education, including weekly multidisciplinary conferences and morbidity and mortality conferences. Fellows and residents receive training in theory, indications, risks, complications, and practical applications of the following procedures and techniques: Epidural injection Selective nerve root block Facet block Sacroiliac joint injection Sympathetic ganglion block Gasserian ganglion block Celiac plexus block Hypogastric plexus block Radiofrequency ablation Intravenous regional anesthesia Discography Nucleoplasty Annuloplasty Spinal cord stimulation Intrathecal infusion Peripheral nerve block Joint injection Behavioral therapy Physical therapy Biofeedback Acupuncture Recognition and management of risks and complications of medications Prevention, recognition and management of risks and complications of procedures Airway management and cardiopulmonary resuscitation Cancer pain management Through the activities of the Pain Medicine Fellowship at the UCSF Center for Pain Medicine, fellows and residents are exposed to all modalities of inpatient acute and chronic pain management consultation, including medical therapies and interventional procedures. The philosophy of the Center maintains that a comprehensive pain management program be initiated to provide the best patient care possible. This multidisciplinary approach recognizes the contributions of various specialties and the necessity of different therapeutic regimens to provide significant pain relief for each individual patient. Application process The UCSF Pain Medicine Fellowship is pleased to be a participant in the NRMP Specialties Matching Service (SMS) Fellowship Application - Please register online with the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). For more information, please contact Nicol Laura, Program Coordinator, at (415) 476-9767, or [email protected]. Appointees must qualify for their respective boards in their primary training discipline. Possession of a full and unrestricted license to practice as a physician in the State of California is an absolute requirement. If you are unsure as to your qualifications to obtain this license, you may obtain the specifics from: California Medical Board 1430 Howe Avenue Sacramento, CA 95825 916.263.2499The Medical Board Of California
